Thursday, July 19, 2012

Russell resident Mark McCurdy has spent two weeks in Zambia, an East Africa Country, with 13 million people and about the same size as our state of Texas.He was part of an eleven person group made up of six firemen/emergency medical personnel, one nurse, one physical therapist, one dietitian, one doctor, and one medical student.Their mission was to show a small community how to use their current fire truck and a newer truck that had been in use in Alaska. The new truck did not arrive and is still in a port near Houston, Texas. The community has a 1946 model fire truck from Great Britain.The group also taught the local citizens emergency medical procedures. Mark found his students to be very interested in learning and developing skills that would help them help themselves.The next task was to develop a fire plan for the area hospital (Saint Francis). They found a very willing medical staff, which had a serious lack of equipment and supplies to serve so many people. The hospital has four to six deaths per day because of poor health conditions in the country. 37% of the African population is infected with the HIV virus. They want to improve their health conditions but a vast amount of education is needed for the treatment and prevention of diseases.The group did get to visit a large animal reserve that required a four hour trip . The roads a lot of the time were like the roads we would see, only a little better than Lucas County level B roads.Look for information to follow on this trip.

Monday, July 16, 2012

I am sure many of you have seen Randy Halteman riding around town with his gardening supplies and his mower going to someone's house to make it look beautiful, but how many of you have gone by his home and seen how beautiful he keeps his own yard?July's winner of the Yard of the Month in Russell, is the Halteman's.Congratulations Cindy and Randy.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Deb Mason, President of the Russell Community Club told us the Ball Park Blowout, held June 30 at the new Trojan Field Campground, was a huge success. Had the weather not been so hot there would have been more people in attendance. It was a good opportunity to learn how the facitilities can be made more adaptable for such functions.

On June 24th, 2012, Ron Christensen and Raymond "Bud" Moody met in Russell to ride their tractors to Centerville, IA to take part in and register for the Great Iowa Tractor Ride, sponsored by WHO radio and other sponsors.

Some 550 tractors made application in late January to go on ride number 16. This was their 10th or 12th time participating.

The host city for this ride was Centerville, IA. They rode a different route each of the three days and returned to the Fairgrounds each evening. Departure time was staggered as 50 tractors at a time left the area.

Monday they went to Corydon, IA., leaving at 8:15 a.m. and returning by 5 p.m., traveling 89 miles that first day. Tuesday they went around Lake Rathbun and traveled 48 miles. On Wednesday, they went east on Highway 2 through Unionville, IA., to Moravia and then back to Centerville.

Ron and Bud rode about 200 miles by the time they returned home on Wednesday, the 27th of June.

The heat did not seem to bother them, they considered it nice weather to ride in. Everyone seemed to enjoy the activities.

The possibility for there being a Fall Festival is still in the discussion stage. Prospective date is the third Saturday of September, which falls on the 15th this year. We will let you know as soon as something is definite.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Judy will be so missed in our little town of Russell. She has served as the leader from the Horizon's group since its beginning in February 2009. She will be taking up residency in West Des Moines this summer. We wish her well in the next chapter of her life and thank her for her faithful work in all aspects of our town.

The Horizon group has again sponsored 8-10 tomato plants distributed for the elderly in Russell. You might remember they brought this activity to the seniors last year, which provided something for them to take care of through the summer with happy results.

Preparations are being made to add new and omitted names to the Veterans Memorial Board at the Museum. The following names will be added: Donald Argo, Devon Carroll, Robert Fuller, Joe Gookin, Leo Kline, Marvin Neer Jr., Jason A. Noble, Brent Paige, Keith Ray Thompson, Whaley boys, Dean Jr., Matthew, and Andrew. Vernon Wilson and Dale Downard. If you know of other missing names on the board, please call Betty Cross at 641-535-2704.